Pin type feeding device



Feb. 26, 1957 A. w. METZNER PIN TYPE FEEDING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 25. 1952 Tha R I E v N mv Z T E Y M E R 4 O T T 4 .R T E A 5 4 RH A A H Y .H .H B 6 rl n 2 3 (J 3 5 .H 3 n n 3 TH 3 H 7 W H I u h T H I Feb. 26, 1957 A. w. METZNER 2,782,894

PIN TYPE FEEDING DEVICE Filed Oct. 25. 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I1 1|] F1 11 E 15 I INVENTOR. ALBERT W. MET ZNER im p w ATTORNEY United States PIN TYPE FEEDDIG DEVICE Application October 25, 1952, Serial No. 316,858 13 Claims. (Cl. 191-133) This invention relates to pin type feeding devices, and more particularly to platen assemblies as used in writing and like machines. Although not so limited, the invention has especial utility in platen assemblies wherein the stationery is fed or advanced in strip form over the platen by pin type strip feeding devices occupying positions at either end of the platen.

In machine of the class described it frequently is desirable to substitute one platen for another to effect a change in length or a change in diameter. While it has heretofore been known to accommodate platens of varying length in a single platen assembly, the substitution of platens of different diameters has in the past involved the substitution of one entire platen assembly for another.

The object of the invention is to simplify the construction as well as the means and mode of operation of pin type feeding devices as disclosed herein, whereby such devices may not only be economically manufactured, but will be more eflicient and satisfactory in use, adaptable to a wide variety of uses, having relatively few parts and be unlikely to get out of repair.

An object of the instant invention is to enable platens of different diameter to be used selectively in a single platen assembly.

Another object of the invention is to present a platen assembly capable of adjustment to accommodate a platen selected from a series of different diameters and varying lengths.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a generally new relationship between the platen and adjacent pin feeding devices wherein rotary impulses are transmitted through the platen to such devices.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a pin type feeding device adjustable to establish and to maintain a cooperative relationship with any one of a plurality of platens of different diameter.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pin type feeding device possessing the advantageous structural features, the inherent meritorious characteristics and the mode of operation herein mentioned.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, as hereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawing, or their equivalents.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown one but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a view of a platen assembly in accordance with the instant invention, such assembly being in end elevation;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in front elevation of the platen assembly;

Pig. 3 is a view in end elevation of the platen;

Fig. 4 is a front view, partly broken away, of the platen atent i 2 assembly, with the platen and the pin wheel feeding devices being omitted;

Fig. 5 is a view in front elevation of one of the sector elements which make up the platen;

Fig. 6 is a view in cross section, taken substantially along the lines 6--6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, showing the pin wheel feeding device adjusted to an ineffective or nonfeeding position;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section, taken substantially along the lines 8-43 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a detail view in cross section, taken substantially along the lines 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a detail view, in perspective, of the pin wheel body;

Fig. 11 is a detail view, in perspective, of the cam disc;

Fig. 12 is a detail view, in perspective, of the cam disc of Fig. 11, showing the reverse side thereof;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section, showing how the feeding pins engage the cam disc;

Fig. 14 is a view in cross section taken substantially along the lines -14 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 15 is a view in cross section taken substantially along the lines l-i5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 16 is a view in cross section taken substantially along the lines 1616 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 17 is a view in end elevation of a pin wheel feeding unit in accordance with the instant invention, taken from the opposite side with respect to Fig. 1.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

A platen assembly for a writing or like machine, in accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the invention, includes a platen shaft 20 suitably journaled in the frame of the machine for rotary movement. Also supported by the frame of the machine, in generally overlying relation to the platen shaft 20 is a relatively sta tionary shaft or cross rod 21. Rigidly secured to the shaft 20, and in effect forming a part thereof, is a surrounding, elongated sleeve 22.

In surrounding, relatively spaced relation to the platen sleeve 22 is a platen 23. The platen 23 comprises or is made up of a metallic liner 24 overlaid by a rubber or rubber like material 26. provided with metal mounting rings 27, the peripheral edges of which are formed with a continuous row of gear like teeth 28. The platen 23 has a sector construction, being in effect split longitudinally to define two mating sections. The line of separation between such mating sections is indicated in Fig. 3 at 29. in one of the end rings 27, there is formed a key slot 31. In the outer faces of both end rings 27 is an annular groove 32.

Also mounted on the platen sleeve 22, but having a sliding fit thereon, is a pair of mounting collars 33 and 34. The collar 33 comprises a cylindrical portion 35, on one end of which is detachably secured a retaining ring 36. The opposite end of cylindrical portion 35 is formed with an enlarged boss from the base of which projects an undercut flange 38 complementary in shape to the above noted annular grooves 32 in the platen 23. Rigidly mounted in the opposite or outer end of the boss 37 is a key 39 projecting into a longitudinal groove 41 in the platen sleeve 22. The collar 33 is accordingly connected to the platen sleeve 22 for unison rotation with it, but is movable relatively to the mounting sleeve in a longitudinal or sliding sense.

The collar 34 is constructed like the collar 33 and is disposed on the sleeve 22 in opposing relation to the collar 33. The collar 34, however, has a key 42 which is oversize with respect to the key 39. The key 42 thus Patented Feb. 26, 1957 At its ends, the platen 23 is.

Within such line,

projects not only into the groove 41 but is adapted and arranged to be received also in the key slot 31 in the platen 23. Further, the collar 34 is provided with a through slot 43 in which is pivotally mounted a lever 44. The latter is engageable in one of a longitudinal series of transverse notches 45 formed in the surface of the platen sleeve 22. With the lever 44 so engaged in a notch 45 the collar 34 is prevented from moving longitudinally along the sleeve 22. It will be understood that the lever 44 may be lifted from engagement with the notch 45 permitting the collar 34 to be shifted to a new longitudinal position of adjustment on the sleeve 22 in which position the collar may be locked by allowing the lever 44 to engage a notch 45 with which it is in that position aligned.

The platen 23 is mounted on the shaft 22 between the pair of collars 33 and 34. The opposing bosses 37 of the collars are received in opposite ends of the platen to hold the platen in concentric relation to the sleeve 22. The flanges 38 of the respective collars are received in the opposite annular grooves 32 of the platen and hold the sector halves of the platen in assembled relation as well as assisting in maintaining a concentric position of the platen with respect to the sleeve 22. The key 42, as noted, is received in the key slot 31 and so connects the platen 23 to the collars 33 and 34 and sleeve 22 for unison rotation therewith. Thus, rotative impulses of the sleeve 22, as may be imparted thereto by a pawl and ratchet mechanism 46 and 47 for example, are transmitted to the platen 23 through the collar 34 and key 42 carried thereby which projects into the key slot 31.

In the installation of the platen 23, the sector halves thereof are brought into aligned assembled relation in embracing surrounding relation to the sleeve 22. The operator or installer grips the platen to maintain the assembled relation of the sector halves and advances the platen upon the relatively stationary collar 34, engaging the adjacent end of the platen with such collar as above described. Then, while the operator continues to grip the platen, he advances the collar 33 into cooperative relation with the opposite end of the platen whereupon the platen is locked in a unitary condition and is firmly supported upon the collars 33 and 34 in concentric relation to the sleeve 22.

Locking means are provided for holding the collar 33 in a selected position of adjustment, it being understood that the location of the collar 33 in the assembled position of the parts will vary in accordance with the length of the platen selected for use. Such locking means comprises a body 48 mounted on the platen sleeve 22 and keyed thereto by a key 49 received in the groove 41. A ring 51 has a screw threaded mounting on the body 48 and presents a vertical wall 52 for frictional contact with the retaining ring 36 on the collar 33. The body 48 also is provided with a through slot 53 in which is pivotally mounted a lever 54. The latter is adapted, like the previously considered lever 44, to engage an aligned notch 45 and so hold the body member 48 from longitudinal sliding motion relatively to the sleeve 22. In the use of the described locking means, the ring engages the lever 54, lifting such lever out of engagement with a notch 4-5. The locking means then is advanced longitudinally along the sleeve 22 until the vertical wall 52 comes in contact with or arrives in adjacent relation to the retaining ring 36. The lever 54 then is released, and the body member readjusted as may be necessary to allow the lever 54 to drop into locking engagement with the nearest groove or notch 45. Following this, the ring 51 is extended relatively to the body 48 until a secure wedging engagement with the ring 36 is achieved.

The collars 33 and 34 serve also as mounts for pin wheel strip feeding devices, of which, since they are identical, only one will be described. The feeding device is mounted on the cylindrical portion 35 of the collar between the retaining ring 36 and the flange 38. It comprises a cup shaped body 56, the closed end of which abuts the flange 38 and is formed with an axial opening 57 of greater diameter than the cylindrical portion 35. The body 56 has a circumferential series of radial holes 58 in each of which is slidably mounted a tapered feeding pin 59. The outer ends of the pins 59 are adapted to project above the surface of the body 56 to engage marginal perforations in a strip material directed in an adjacent overlying relation to the platen assembly. The pin wheel body 56 is formed with a peripheral row of projecting teeth 61 in opposing relation to the teeth 28 on the end of platen 23 and constructed and arranged to mesh with such teeth. There is accordingly established a driving-driven relationship between the platen 23 and the pin wheel body 56 whereby for each increment of rotary movement imparted to the platen 23 there is a similar movement produced in the pin wheel body 56. Accordingly, as the platen 23 is advanced, the pin wheel body 56 and the strip material engaged thereby are simultaneously and correspondingly advanced.

The inner ends of the feeding pins 59 are transversely grooved to engage a cam ring 62. The ring 62 is substantially cylindrical and concentric with respect to the body 56, except for a projecting lobe 63. The cam ring 62 being held against rotary motion with the body 56, as will be seen, the rotary movement of the body 56 under the influence of the platen 23 is accompanied by a progressive extension and retraction of the feeding pins 58 with respect to the outer surface of the body 56. Thus, during the greater part of the movement of the body 56, the feeding pins 58 occupy retracted positions beneath the surface of the body. As the pins approach and are carried over the lobe 63, however, they are projected above the surface of the body and during this phase of their revolving motion engage and advance the strip material. It will be apparent that by readjusting the cam ring 62 rotatively with respect to the pin wheel body 56, the circumferential area of projection 'of the pins 58 may be varied. Such adjustment may be used initially to fix the area of projection and further may be used to render the pin wheel unit alternatively effective and ineffective to engage and advance the strip. Thus, in Fig. 1 the strip is indicated at 64 and extends about the platen assembly in contacting, embracing relation to the platen 23 and the pair of pin wheel feeding devices which are arranged on opposite ends of the platen. The writing line is conventionally in the horizontal plane of the assembly as indicated in Fig. 1 by the arrow. Also, as indicated in Fig. 1, if the cam ring 62 is adjusted to project the feeding pins 59 in a circumferential area which is in or adjacent to the writing line then the feeding unit may be described as being in an effective position since the pins 59 are enabled to engage the perforations in the strip. If, however, the cam ring 62 is adjusted or turned from 45 to 90 degrees in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Fig. 1, then the pin wheel unit may be described as being in an ineffective position since at this time the circumferential area of projection of the pins 59 is too distant from the writing line to permit their engagement with the strip 64.

The cam ring 6263 is a part of a disc 65 which has a close sliding fit within the pin wheel body 56. There is a circumferential groove 66 in the disc 65 and an aligned circumferential groove 67 in the surface of body 56 together with spaced apart openings 68 in the groove 67. A spring wire clip 69 is removably mounted in the groove 67 and is formed with inwardly bent detenting loops 71 which project through the openings 68 into the groove 66 in the disc 65. The disc 65 and the body 56 accordingly are normally locked against relative longitudinal motion.

The disc 65 has a central opening 72 aligned with and of substantially the same diameter as the opening 57 in the body 56. Projecting in surrounding relation to the opening 72, and in opposing relation to the cam ring 62-63, is a spacer flange 73 on the disc 65. Further, the disc 65 is formed with a series, in the present instance four, of screw threaded holes 74. The holes 74 provide u for the selective attachment to the face of disc 65 of a plate 75. Such plate comprises a hub portion mounted on the flange 73 and formed with circumferentially spaced apart notches 76 and 77, and further comprises an abutment sector 78 in which is an arcuate slot 79. The plate 75 is attached to the disc 65 by means of a screw 81 which is passed through the slot 79 into one of the holes 74. The screw is turned down tightly upon the plate 75, thus holding the plate in rigid yet adjustable relation with the disc 65.

In side by side relation to the plate 75, and also mounted on the flange 73 is another plate 82 on the face of which is pivotally mounted a lever 83. The lever 33 is urged by a spring 84 in a direction to cause one end theerof to ride upon the hub of plate 75. On such one end of the lever 83 is a finger 35 engageable in the aforementioned notches 76 and 77. When the lever 83 is so engaged relative rotary motion between the plates 75 and 82 is prevented. The opposite end of lever 83 is formed as a finger 86 which by reason of the action of spring 84 projects above the peripheral edges of the plates 75 and 82 in such manner that it may be engaged and depressed by hand, thereby releasing the finger 85 from a notch 76 or 77. With the lever 83 released from cooperative engagement with the plate 75, such plate may be turned in a rotary sense, as through the application of a pointed instrument to one of the shoulders defining the terminals of sector portion 78. If the operator removes the pressure applied to lever 83, at the same time that he starts to turn the plate 75, continued turning motion of the plate 75 relative to the plate 82 will only be permitted unil the lever finger 85 reaches cooperative engagement with a notch 76 or 77. Thus, the plate 75 is adjustable between oscillatory limits of movement and is held in adjusted position by engagement of the lever 83 in a notch 76 or 77. It will be understood that since the plate 75 is attached to the disc 65 such disc and the cam ring 6263 partake of such movements and it will be further understood that the alternative positions of adjustment so defined result in and represent the effective and inefiective positions of the pin wheel feeding unit as before described.

As seen in Fig. 16, the plate 82 has a pair of substantially diametrically opposed screw studs 87 set in the face thereof on the opposite side of the lever 83, as well as a third screw stud 88 occupying an intermediate position with respect to the studs 87. The studs 87 are received in slots 89 and 91 in a reactant member 92 while stud 88 is received in a third slot 93 in such member. The plate 82 further has a central opening 94 registering with the opening 72 in disc 65. The mounting of the plate 82 in slots 89, 91 and 93 in the reactant member 92 provides for a relative sliding motion between the plate 82 and member 92 which motion is radial with respect to the longitudinal axis of the platen assembly.

The reactant member 92 has a close fit upon the cylindrical portion 35 of the abutment collar. In its periphery is a slot 95 which receives the aforementioned cross rod or shaft 21 forming a fixed part of the frame of the writing machine. The reactant member 92 accordingly is held by reason of its connection with shaft 21 from moving in a rotary direction either with the mounting collar or relatively thereto. It is further held from motion in a radial sense with respect to the collar on account of its close fit upon the cylindrical portion 35.

'An operating lever for moving the plate 82 relatively to the reactant member 92 is represented by a lever 96 pivoted intermediate its ends on a stud 97 set in the face of the member 92. One end of the lever 90 is provided with a detent plunger 93 engageable selectively in a series of depressions 99 in the reactant member 92. It will be apparent that in moving the detent plunger 98 from one to another of the depressions 99 a turning motion of the lever 96 is effected resulting in a relative sliding motion of the plate 82 with respect to the reactant member 92.

Since the plate 82 is mounted on the flange'73 of the disc 65, and since the disc 65 has a telescopic mounting in the pin wheel body 56, it will be understood that the described sliding motion of the plate 82 is participated in by the plate 75, the disc 65 and the body 56, all of these elements moving as a unit in a radial sense with respect to the axis of the mounting collar.

The first or left hand detent position 99 may be considered as a normal position for the parts since in this position of the lever 96 the pin wheel body and associated elements occupy a concentric position relatively to the mounting collar and to the platen 23. Now, if there is installed in the writing machine a platen of the same outside diameter as the diameter of the pin wheel body 56, then the respective gear teeth 28 and 61 on the platen and pin wheel body will mesh with one another so that the pin wheel unit will be driven in accompaniment with rotation of the platen. If, however, there is installed in the machine a platen which is oversize with respect to the pin wheel body 56, a corresponding adjustment of the lever 96 is made to move the pin wheel body to an eccentric position which establishes and maintains interengagement of the gear teeth on the pin wheel and on the platen even though such engagement may extend over only a portion of the circumference of the platen.

As before noted, it is intended that the pin wheel body should be universal with respect to each of a series of platens of different diameters. Thus, each platen of such series may be represented by one of the detent depression 99. These depressions are so spaced and the other operating parts are constructed and arranged that for each diameter platen there is a corresponding detent position, in the achieving of which the pin wheel body is moved so that a portion of its periphery is tangentto a portion of the periphery of the platen, Within the area of the writing line. A single, comparatively permanently installed pin wheel body accordingly is universally applicable to any one of a series of platens of different diameters since by appropriate radial adjustment of the pin wheel body the driving-driven relationship between the platen and the pin wheel body may be established and maintained.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its ad vantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into efiect.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A platen assembly for a writing or like machine, including a rotatable shaft, longitudinally spaced apart body members mounted on said shaft for unison rotation therewith, a platen supported on said body members for unison rotation therewith, strip feed devices rotatably mounted on said body members and radially adjustable with respect to the longitudinal axis of said platen, and rotary driving connections between said platen and said feed devices alternatively established and discontinued by radial adjustment of said devices.

2. A platen assembly for a writing or like machine, including a rotatable shaft, platen supports mounted on said shaft for unison rotary movement therewith, a platen element in surrounding relation to said shaft and having its ends resting on said supports, a strip feeding element on each of said supports adjacent to respective ends of said platen element, meshing gearsbetween said platen element and said feeding element establishing a drivingdriven relationship therebetween, a mounting for the driving element providing for unison rotation with said supports, and a mounting for the driven element providing for a relative radial motion thereof whereby said platen element and said feeding element may assume concentric and eccentric relations to one another.

3. A platen assembly for a writing or like machine, including a rotatable shaft, platen supports mounted on said shaft for unison rotary movements, a strip feeding device mounted on each of said supports for rotary and radial movements relative thereto, means for holding said devices in selected radial positions of adjustment, a platen in surrounding relation to said shaft and having its ends mounted on said supports for unison rotation therewith, and meshing gears on said platen and said feeding devices rotating said feeding devices in unison with said platen, a platen of selected diameter being matched to said feeding devices by radial adjustment of said devices to mesh said gears.

4. A platen assembly for a Writing or like machine, including a rotatable shaft, platen supports mounted on said shaft for relative sliding and unison rotary movements, a platen having its ends mounted on said supports, said platen being selected from a group of platens varying in length or diameter or both, means for selectively positioning said supports lengthwise of the shaft in accordance with the length of the selected platen, strip feeding devices mounted on said supports for rotary and radial movements relative thereto, means for holding said devices in selected radial positions of adjustment, and interengaging portions on said platen and feeding devices establishing a rotary driving-driven relationship therebetween, said devices being adjustable radially in accordance with the diameter of the selected platen to establish and maintain such relationship.

5. A platen assembly for a writing or like machine, including a rotatable shaft, longitudinally spaced apart supports on said shaft rotatable therewith, a strip feeding device mounted on each of said supports for relative rotary and radial movements, a platen in concentric surrounding relation to said shaft and mounted on said supports for unison rotation therewith, said platen being selected from a group of platens of varying diameter, and a driving connection between said platen and each of said feeding devices established and maintained by a radial adjustment of said feeding devices in accordance with the diameter of the selected platen.

6. A platen assembly for a writing or like machine, including a rotatable shaft, longitudinally spaced apart supports on said shaft rotatable therewith, a platen of selected diameter mounted on said supports in concentric surrounding relation to said shaft, said platen being connected to said supports for unison rotation therewith, strip feeding devices rotatably mounted on said supports in driven relation to said platen, and a mounting for said devices providing for radial adjustment thereof to main tain said driven relation in connection with platens of different diameter.

7. In a writing or like machine a strip feeding device universal with respect to each of a series of platens of different diameter, including a relatively fixed support, a body member in surrounding spaced relation to said support and movable relatively thereto in rotary and 8 radial senses, means mounting said body member on said support for sliding movement to selected radial positions of adjustment with respect thereto, and means for holding said body member in selected radial positions of adjustment.

8. in a writing or like machine, a platen shaft, a platen on said shaft in concentric surrounding relation thereto, a strip feeding device on said shaft in adjacent relation to one end of said platen, said device being adjustable radially of said shaft, peripheral meshing gears .y on said platen and said device establishing a driving-driven relationship therebetween, and means for holding said feeding device in each of a series of radial positions of adjustment corresponding to each of a series of platen diameters.

{n a writing or like machine, a platen shaft, a platen on said shaft and connected thereto for rotation with the shaft, said platen being selected from a series of piatens of different diameters, a strip feeding device rotatably mounted on the shaft on each end of said platen, mating circumferential gears on said platen on said feeding devices to effect rotation of said devices by said platen, and a radially adjustable mounting for said feeding devices to effect meshing of the gears thereof with the mating gears of any one of said series of platens.

10. A writing or like machine according to claim 9, characterized by means in said radially adjustable mounting defining adjustment positions corresponding to the different diameter platens.

ll. in a writing or like machine, a platen shaft, a mounting sleeve mounted on said shaft for unison rotation with the shaft, a pin wheel feeding unit including a pin Wheel body in surrounding spaced relation to said sleeve and formed with peripheral, laterally projecting gear teeth, a reactant member in surrounding contacting relation to said sleeve, lever means between said reactant member and said pin wheel body for shifting said body radially of said sleeve, locating means for positioning said pin wheel body in selected positions of adjustment, a platen selected from a series of platens of different diameter mounted on said shaft in concentric relation to said sleeve and for unison rotation with said shaft, and a row of gear teeth on one end of said platen put in driving engagement with the gear teeth on said pin wheel body by appropriate radial adjustment of said body.

12. A writing machine according to claim 11, characterized by a second mounting sleeve and pin wheel unit mounted on said shaft, the respective sleeves being relatively adjustable along said shaft to receive therebetween platens of varying length as well as of varying diameter.

13. A writing machine according to claim 11, wherein said pin wheel unit includes feeding pins radially movable in said pin wheel body, characterized by adjustable cam means for controlling the movements of said pins mounted on said pin wheel body for unison radial and relative rotary movements.

2,031,928 2,268,891 Mueller Jan. 6, 1942 2,271,306 Nichols Jan. 27, 1942 

